Royal Air Force Combat Plane Aids UK Flood Recovery (Photos)

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Photos of flooding taken by a Royal Air Force jet are aiding
recovery in the United Kingdom after the Thames overflowed its
banks this week.

The Tornado GR4 jet is equipped with a specialized photography
pod called the Reconnaissance Airborne Pod for Tornado (RAPTOR).
This tool enables the collection of
high-resolution imagery showing flood-affected
areas.

Almost 6,000 homes are flooded in the Thames Valley, and more
flooding is expected as a winter storm brings more rain to
England starting Friday (Feb. 14),
according to CNN. As of Friday evening, the U.K.'s Met Office
had issued 107 flood warnings and 15 severe flood warnings, as
well as 156 flood alerts.

In combat, the RAPTOR enables the Tornado pilot to gather images
of targets in both the visible spectrum and in infrared.

"This Tornado-borne surveillance capability is very much proven
in a combat role in Afghanistan but its versatility is underlined
by its use today, here at home, to support ongoing flood relief
efforts," U.K. Secretary for Defense Philip Hammond said in a
statement.

The images captured by the military plane show a large mansion
surrounded by water in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire. Additional
images are being processed by RAF analysts and will be handed
over to civilian authorities.